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Illegal Immigration is a Gay Issue?

Who knew that illegal immigration would become a real gay issue. But the Democrats are trying very hard to make it one. Knowing the lack of support for a bill giving amnesty to illegal aliens before the borders are sealed the liberal democrats in the House are looking for a way to hook gay and lesbian Americans to their side of the argument. Their approach is a provision in immigration legislation that would allow them to bring foreign partners home to the United sates.

Under current law, American citizens and other legal permanent residents can get a green card or immigrant visa for a spouse living abroad. However, there is no provision for same-sex couples.

During a news conference on Capitol Hill Thursday, Democratic Reps. Jerrold Nadler of New York, Luis Gutierrez of Illinois and Mike Honda of California, among others, urged Congress to pass the Uniting American Families Act as part of a comprehensive immigration reform package this year.

“Right now too many same-sex, binational couples face an impossible choice,” said Gutierrez, who sits on the House Judiciary Committee’s immigration subcommittee, “to live apart or to break the law to be with partners, their families and children.”

“Government should never engage in purposeless, gratuitous cruelty and we should stop it,” Nadler said.

There are two amazing things about this news conference, first that they were able to lure Jerrold Nadler away from the all-you-can-eat buffet long enough to attend this news conference. The other is that they think that Gay and Lesbian Americans are stupid enough to buy this cynical provision. Lets face it if the Democrats gave a damn about same sex couples being able to bring their foreign partners into the country the wouldn’t need to create it as a controversial part of an already controversial legislation.

With no support from the GOP, the comprehensive immigration bill introduced by Gutierrez last December has stalled in the House. Republicans say this legislation won’t help.

“These are creative people who just have the wrong philosophy,” said Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, a member of the immigration subcommittee. “It’s an alliance designed to grant amnesty.”

“It tries to redefine traditional marriage. I can’t support that,” Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, told Fox News. “If they’re looking to truly reach out to conservatives and Republicans and do something in a bipartisan way, this isn’t it.”

See what I mean?

The legislation appears to be part of an effort to strengthen support on the left, rather than the right, by targeting a constituency that has yet to be heard from in the immigration debate — the lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgendered community.

“Last time around the pro-immigration side took us for granted. … It is crucial to shore up the support of real genuine progressives who will pick up the phone and call their representatives,” said Rachel Tiven of Immigration Equality, an organization that describes itself as one fighting for equal immigration rights for the LGBT community as well as HIV positive immigrants and their families.

Last month in Arizona, Phoenix’ gay chamber of commerce urged national gay rights groups not to boycott the state over its impending immigration law that allows a crackdown by local police on illegals, saying the decision would hurt gay-friendly businesses. Proposed comprehensive immigration reform legislation in Congress is in part a reaction to criticism that the federal government has not done enough to resolve illegal immigration in the country.

Despite this cynical provision to the amnesty for illegal aliens bill, it will not pass. America was fooled during the Reagan administration with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. We were promised that once the Illegals were granted amnesty, the borders would be sealed. That never happened. Now the border protections has to come first.